Cunard Line Announces 2013 Voyage Programme, Open for Sale on 24 April

Highlights include new itineraries, inaugural calls in Italy, Iceland and the Mediterranean, plus overnight stays in Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and CanadaCunard Line has announced its 2013 Voyage Programme, offering an extensive range of sailings across its three ships featuring 106 voyages/cruises visiting 99 ports in 35 countries. Highlights include several inugural calls and overnight stays, and multiple departures for its most popular itineraries, including the St. Petersburg & Baltic Explorer, Fjords & Waterfalls and Greek Isles & Mediterranean Treasures.

RMS Queen Mary 2 will continue to offer her legendary Transatlantic Voyages between New York and Southampton, as well as to Hamburg, while Queen Victoria will spend her full 2013 season sailing Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and Atlantic Isles, Iberia and Morocco, with a new 24-day voyage to the Black Sea and Turkey; and Queen Elizabeth will spend much of her season travelling from Southampton to Northern Europe and sailing the Mediterranean from Venice, Athens, Rome and Southampton.

RMS Queen Mary 2The grandest ocean liner at sea, Queen Mary 2, will sail a total of 17 Transatlantic sailings between New York and Southampton from May 2013 to January 2014. In addition to the flagship’s popular seven-day Transatlantic voyages, Cunard introduces two eight-day crossings. Extended nine- and ten-day Crossings between New York and Hamburg will also be available.

These longer Crossings offer additional time to explore the ship’s extensive on board amenities and activities, including lectures through the award-winning Cunard Insights programme; stargazing in the only planetarium at sea; white-gloved afternoon tea served in the Queens Room or a spin around the dance floor during a Royal Nights themed ball; taking in a performance or workshop by members of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art; or perusing the 8,000 volumes in the largest library at sea.

Those travelling select European itineraries also may opt to combine their voyage with a Transatlantic Voyage on either side, creating a "Grand" voyage. Queen Mary 2 will also continue ventures to Northern Europe, plus roundtrip New York departures to New England and Canada – featuring an overnight stay in Quebec – and a visit to the Caribbean just in time for the holidays. First-time calls for Queen Mary 2 include Andalsnes, Norway and Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda. Fares for the following voyages start from: * Seven-day Transatlantic: $1199 * Eight-day Transatlantic: $1499 * Seven-day Fjords & Waterfalls: $1699 * Five-day 4th of July Getaway: $1349 * 12-day Autumn Colours (New England/Canada): $2499 * 15-day Northern Highlights: $2999 * 21-day Grand Fjords & Waterfalls: $4399

Those considering travelling with pets should make kennel reservations now as space will sell out quickly for the entire 2013 sailings.

Queen Victoria Queen Victoria will sail a range of voyages from Southampton to Northern Europe, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Isles, Iberia and Morocco, including the popular seven-day Fjords & Waterfalls itinerary (Norway) and the St. Petersburg & Baltic Explorer voyage, with an overnight stay in St. Petersburg. Additionally, Queen Victoria will sail a series of Mediterranean voyages ranging from 12 to 17 days and, new for 2013, a 24-day voyage to the Black Sea and Turkey. Inaugurl ports include Agadir, Morocco; Isafjordur, Iceland; Palau-Costa Smeralda, Italy; Torshavn, Faroe Islands; and Warnemunde, Germany.

Queen Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth‘s 2013 schedule will take her to Iceland, the Norwegian Fjords, the British Isles and the Baltic Sea. Later in the season, she will reposition to the Mediterranean and embark on eight voyages from Venice, Rome (Civitavecchia) and Athens (Piraeus). These popular itineraries again include the Greek Isles and Holy Land voyages, and inaugural ports include Akureyri, Iceland; Goteborg, Sweden; Isafjordur, Iceland; Izmir, Turkey; Marseilles, France; Reykjavik, Iceland; Salerno, Italy; Split, Croatia; Valencia, Spain; and Warnemunde, Germany. Overnight calls include St. Petersburg, Istanbul, Copenhagen and Venice.

Queen Elizabeth‘s grand art deco interiors and unique art works, which pay homage to both the original Queen Elizabeth and Great Britain’s Royal Family, continue to fascinate and delight guests who sail aboard the Line’s newest Cunarder. The ship’s Grand Lobby prominently displays the 18.5 ft. marquetry piece of the original Queen Elizabeth created by David Linley, only nephew of Her Majesty The Queen; and a specially commissioned portrait of The Queen, created by artist Isobel Peachey particularly for Queen Elizabeth‘s 2010 debut.

All referenced fares are US per person, based on double occupancy. Reservations for Cunard’s 2013 voyages will open for booking on 24 April 2012. The Cruise People is setting up its Cunard group departures now. Please let us know if there are sailings of interest to you.